Container dumping apparatus



Nov. 30; 1965 Filed May 29, 1963 R. SWANSON CONTAINER DUMPING APPARATUS2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR RAYMOND SWANSON ATTORNEY Nov. 30, 1965 R.SWANSON I 3,220,584

CONTAINER DUMPING APPARATUS Filed May 29, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. H G 3 RAYMOND SWANSON ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,220,584CONTAENER DUMPING APPARATUS Raymond Swanson, 5400 Marshall St., Arvada,Colo. Filed May 29, 1963, Ser. No. 284,090 Claims. (Cl. 214-313) Thepresent invention relates to container dumping apparatus for use withrefuse packer trucks.

In recent years many different refuse handling systems have been devisedso waste materials can be more economically handled and carried topoints of disposal. Packer trucks have come into widespread usage sincematerials collected from many sites can be dumped into such trucks to becompacted into a confined space for transport to a dump, land fill orother place of disposal.

Several manufacturers have heretofore designed, built and sold aconsiderable number of packer vehicles which are now in extensive use.Similar improvements have been made in systems for the in-plant handlingof refuse materials. In general, these systems have entailed the use ofstandard size containers into which waste materials are deposited toawait the scheduled arrival of the packer carrier truck itself.

Since it has proved to be most advantageous to provide in-plant refusecontainers of a relatively large size, mechanisms have been provided onthe refuse packer carrier units to facilitate the handling and dumpingof such large containers. In general, the dumping mechanisms have beendesigned so that the in-plant container may be moved pivotally from anupright position to an inverted position over or in communication withan opening in the refuse packer.

While all present systems are considerably more efficient than themanual handling of refuse materials, a main problem has arisen from thefact that the best design, construction and configuration of the packercarrier does not lend itself to efficient combination with the mosteconomical and best sizing and design of in-plant containers. If thecontainers are made to have a convenient height so that refuse materialsmay be hand loaded into the containers and so that a larger quantity ofmaterials may be retained in such containers, the top lip or opening ofthe container is considerably higher than the lower limiting edge of thedesired opening in a packer carrier unit. A simple pivoted dumping ofthe refuse container, accordingly, requires either the provision of anoversize opening in the packer unit into which the container is receivedor use of low containers of limited capacity.

Simple pivoted dumping of a reasonably sized container requires a highposition of the lower opening in the packer unit. This high positioningof the lower edge of the opening makes it difficult for the drivers andpacker operators to load items manually into the same refuse receivingopening. Thus, operation of present packer systems has indicated that itwould be beneficial if a packer unit could be provided which had arefuse receiving opening which was of the smallest possible size toreceive large or standard containers. A further desirable feature wouldentail the placement of such receiving opening at the lowest possibleelevation so that materials could alternately be hand loaded into theopening without excessive effort on the part of personnel.

It has been an object of the present invention to provide an attachmentor dumping mechanism which will make it possible to incorporate thesedesirable features into conventional packer type apparatus.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a container dumpingmechanism for use on packer carriers which is capable of holding anddumping large size containers into a carrier opening of relatively smallsize "ice positioned at an elevation lower than the height of suchcontainer.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a mechanism whichwill satisfy such objectives in an efficient and economical manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which may beapplied as an attachment to existing conventional packeer apparatus tomore efficiently handle larger collection containers.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentin the appended description and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing showing the dumping attachment appliedto a conventional type refuse packer carrier and further showing acollection container in full dump position,

FIG. 2 is a side elevation showing the operative mechanisms in a first,container engaging position,

FIG. 3 is a side elevation showing the mechanism of FIG. 2 in analternate dumping position, and

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation showing the features of a side lock mechanismfor engaging the collection container.

Briefly stated, the present invention provides a mechanism which may beattached to and used in connection with refuse packer carriers to engageand dump collection containers into an opening in the packer carrier.The mechanism specifically provides a linkage arrangement whereby a toprefuse receiving and discharging opening for the container is movedthrough a dumping arc to bring the top opening to an inverted dumpposition at a level lower than its normal collecting position. Thedumping arc cycle further brings the top opening to a duming position.

The detailed features of an embodiment of the invention are shown in theaccompanying drawings, in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of which it can be seen thatthe dump mechanism 11 is provided as an attachment which may be affixedto a conventional type refuse packer carrier 12 in position adjacent tothe refuse receiving opening 13 of such packer carrier. The mechanism 11is mounted on a supporting base 14 which may be welded, bolted orotherwise joined to the frame 16 of the packer carrier 12.

The base 14 provides support for a fulcrum pivot 17, the hydrauliccylinder mount 18 and a linkage anchor 19. An actuator arm 21 is mountedto rotate about the fulcrum pivot 17 from its non-extended position, asshown in FIG. 2, to a full extended position, as shown in FIG. 3. Thisdesired movement of the actuator arm 21 is, in this embodiment of theinvention, accomplished through use of a hydraulic cylinder 22 mountedon the support 18. As the piston rod 23 of the hydraulic cylinder 22 isextended, the force of such extension is transmitted by means of theclevis pin 24 to the actuator arm 21. This causes a correspondingpivoting movement of the reaction pin 26 at the end of the actuator arm21. Since the reaction pin 26 is attached to the container support link27, this support link itself is moved by any movement of the actuatorarm 21. The movement pattern of the support link is likewise controlled,however, by a connecting link 28 which interconnects the linkage anchor19 and a control pivot 29 on the support link in position away from thereaction pin 26.

As illustrated, the resultant movement of the support link 27 provides acharacteristic unfolding rotation of such support link and, necessarily,:of any object moving with the support link. This unfolding movement ofthe support link 27 inverts the relative positioning of the reaction pin26 and control pivot 29 and actually moves the pivot 29 to a positionthat is physically forward of its initial position. This combinedinverting and translating movecontainer through a similar and highlydesirable dumping are. As illustrated in the mentioned figures, thisdesired dumping action may be transmitted to collection containers 31through the provision of additional mechanisms for engaging and lockingsuch container in position between the support links 27 and theirassociated mechanisms of similar construction and arrangement disposedon opposite sides of a refuse packer carrier 12. Such similar andoppositely disposed mechanisms are joined together for mutuallyregulated movement by a cross bar 32 joined rigidly to each of thesupport links 27. This cross bar 32 further holds the support links 27and all associated linkages a fixed distance apart whereby collectioncontainers 31 may be engaged and held therebetween by a lock mechanisms41.

The lock or engaging mechanism 41 used in connection with this presentembodiment of the invention is more fully shown in FIGURE 4 of theaccompany drawings. Desirably, this mechanism includes a force exertingmember, such as the hydraulic cylinder 42, which will move containerengaging channels 43 reciprocally against the sides 44 or cooperativelysized extensions 46 disposed on the longitudinal sides of collectioncontainers 31. Since the hydraulic cylinder 42 and the channels 43rotate with the support link 27, the extensions 46 and the collectioncontainers 31 will be moved through the described inverting andforwardly translating movement pattern of the support links 27. As shownin FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, this movement pattern will move the collectioncontainer 31 and its top refuse receiving opening 47 into a dumpingposition whereby the materials held in the container will be dumpedthrough the rear refuse receiving opening 13 of the packer carrier 12.Beneficially, such movement pattern does not require the lower limitingedge of the refuse receiving opening 13 to be positioned as high as thenormal position for the top of the collection container 31. Likewise, itshould be noted that the upper limiting edge 15 of the opening 13 doesnot have to be displaced upwardly to admit the forwardly swingingcollection container as it is moved into the full dumping position.

The derived movement pattern illustrated and described make it possibleto provide a more efficient packer carrier, since the size of theopening 13 may be reduced thereby increasing the actual carryingcapacity of the packer carrier 12, and, further, such opening may beadvantageously positioned at a relatively low elevation so that refusematerials may be efliciently and more easily hand loaded into thecarrier under circumstances where the desirable collection containersare not used or where hand loading of odd pieces is otherwise desirable.

The lock-engaging mechanism 41 is of special importance, since itprovides adaptability for the overall dumping mechanism. Because of thefact that the engaging channels 43 may be moved reciprocally by thecylinder 42, it is possible to use the present mechanism for handlingcontainers of varied size. For containers that are narrower in Widththan standard, the further extension of the hydraulic cylinder 42 willbring the engaging channels 43 and containers 44 into securerelationship. Since many different trash handling systems are inwidespread use and since not all containers are of the same size, thepresent mechanism makes it possible for an owner or operator to servicea wider range of new customers with this unit.

In addition to the fact that the mechanism itself is adaptable to usefor the handling of variously sized and presently existing containers,it should be noted that the dumping mechanism 11 is itself adapted formounting on presently existing and currently manufactured types ofrefuse packer carriers. For this reason the unit can be provided oncarriers of current manufacture, or, alternately, the dumping mechanism11 may be provided as an integral modification unit for packer carriersnow in service.

A special advantage of such dump mechanisms 11, whether used as a newinstallation or a modification unit,

is embodied in the fact that hydraulic controls (not shown) ofconventional type may be easily mounted on the sides of the refusecarrier adjacent to the cylinder 22. With this type mounting all of thefunctions of the unit may be controlled from an advantageous operationaland observation point. When an operator moves a refuse container 31.into position to be engaged by the engaging channels 43, he will beclose to such control units and can proceed to actuate the lock anddumping mechanisms. In addition to the fact that the controls may beplaced for easily available access, it should be noted that all of theoperating mechanisms are outside of the packer carrier opening 13. It isunnecessary to reach into this refuse holding receptacle to locate andremove dump hooks, cables or other types of container engagingmechanisms.

While certain advantages of the present invention and of the describedembodiment thereof have been described, it should be obvious thatadditional advantages are inherent in the principles of this invention.Further, it should be noted that while one embodiment of the inventionhas been shown and illustrated the invention is adaptable to variousmodifications and changes. All such modifications as come within thescope of the appended claims are considered to be a part of thisinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A dumping mechanism for refuse packer carriers adapted for mountingadjacent an opening in said carrier to facilitate the dumping ofcollection containers into such opening comprising a base, a containersupport link, a reaction pin on said support link, a control pivot onsaid support link, an actuator arm pivotally mounted on said base andconnected to the reaction pin of said support link, a connecting linkpivotally mounted on said base and connected to the control pivot ofsaid support link, a lock mechanism for engaging said refuse containersand adapted for movement with said support link; said actuator arm,support link and connecting link being cooperatively formed with theeffective length of such actuator arm between its pivot mount andreaction pin being greater than the combined lengths of said connectingand support links and with the base mounting point of said connectinglink being disposed away from the base mounting point for said actuatorarm a distance equal to at least one-half the effective length of saidarm to provide an inverting and translating movement of said supportlink as said actuator arm is moved, and mechanical advantage means formoving said actuator arm to desired positions whereby collectioncontainers engaged by said lock mechanism may be dumped into the openingof said packer carrier as the said support link is moved through thedescribed pattern.

2. A dumping mechanism for refuse packer carriers adapted for mountingadjacent an opening in said carrier to facilitate the dumping ofcollection containers into such opening comprising a base, containersupport links on opposed sides of said vehicle, reaction pins on each ofsaid support links, control pivots on said support links, actuator armspivotally mounted on said base and connected to the reaction pins ofsaid support links, connecting links pivotally mounted on said base andconnected to the control pivots of said support links; said actuatorarms, support links and connecting links being cooperatively positionedwith the base mounting point of said connecting links being disposedaway from the base mounting points for said actuator arms a distanceequal to at least one-half the effective lengths of said arms and withthe said control and support links being of cooperative length wherebysaid control pivots are at all times disposed inwardly of the arcsdescribed by said reaction pins to provide an inverting and translatingmovement of said support links as said actuator arms are moved, a lockmechanism on at least one of said support links, a container engagingmember on said lock mechanism, a force exerting member for moving saidcontainer engaging member into engagement with a collection containerdisposed between the opposed support links, and mechanical advantagemeans for moving said actuator arms to desired positions wherebycollection containers engaged by said lock mechanism may be dumped intothe opening of said packer carrier as the said support links are movedthrough the described pattern.

3. A dumping mechanism for refuse packer carriers adapted for mountingadjacent an opening in said carrier to facilitate the dumping ofcollection containers into such opening by moving said containersthrough a dumping arc whereby the tops of said containers are invertedas they are moved forwardly and to the lower height position of saidopening comprising a base, container support links on opposed sides ofsaid vehicle, reaction pins on each of said support links, controlpivots on said support links, actuator arms pivotally mounted on saidbase and connected to the reaction pins of said support links,connecting links pivotally mounted on said base and connected to thecontrol pivots of said support links; said actuator arms, support linksand the connecting links being cooperatively formed With the effectivelength of such actuator arm between its pivot mount and reaction pinbeing greater than the combined lengths of said connecting said supportlinks and with the base mounting point of said connecting link beingdisposed away from the base mounting point for said actuator arm adistance equal to at least one-half the effective length of said arm toprovide an inverting and translating movement of said support links assaid actuator arms are moved, a cross bar interconnecting the opposedsupport links for maintaining a fixed distance therebetween, a lockmechanism on at least one of said support links, a container engagingmember on said lock mechanism, a force exerting memher for moving saidcontainer engaging member into engagement with collection containersdisposed between the container engaging member and the opposite supportlink, and mechanical advantage means for moving said actuator arms todesired positions whereby the collection containers engaged by said lockmechanism may be dumped into the opening of said packer carrier as thesaid support links are moved through the described pattern.

4. A dumping mechanism for refuse packer carriers adapted for mountingadjacent an opening in said carrier to facilitate the dumping ofcollection containers into such opening by moving said containersthrough a dumping arc whereby the tops of said containers are invertedas they are moved forwardly and to the lower height position of saidopening comprising a base, container support links on opposed sides ofsaid vehicle, reaction pins on each of said support links, controlpivots on said support links, actuator arms pivotally mounted on saidbase and connected to the reaction pins of said support links,connecting links pivotally mounted on said base and connected to thecontrol pivots of said support links; said actuator arms, support linksand the connecting links being cooperatively formed positioned with thebase mounting point of said connecting links being disposed away fromthe base mounting points for said actuator arms a distance equal to atleast one-half the effective lengths of said arms and with the saidcontrol and support links being of cooperative length whereby saidcontrol pivots are at all times disposed inwardly of the arcs describedby said reaction pins to provide an inverting and translating movementof said support links as said actuator arms are moved, a cross barinterconnecting the opposed support links for maintaining a fixeddistance therebetween, a lock mechanism on at least one of said supportlinks, guide members on said lock mechanism, a container engaging memberon said guide means for reciprocal movement therealong toward and awayfrom said containers, a force exerting member for moving said containerengaging member into engagement with collection containers disposedbetween the container engaging member andthe opposite support links, andmechanical advantage means for moving said actuator arms to desiredpositions whereby collection containers engaged by said lock mechanismmay be dumped into the openings of packer carriers as the said supportlinks are moved through the described pattern.

5. A dumping mechanism for refuse packer carriers adapted for mountingadjacent an opening in said carrier to facilitate the dumping ofcollection containers into such opening by moving said containersthrough a dumping arc whereby the tops of said containers are invertedas they are moved forwardly and to the lower height position of saidopening comprising a base, container support links on opposed sides ofsaid vehicle, reaction pins on each of said support links, controlpivots on said support links, actuator arms pivotally mounted on saidbase and connected to the reaction pins of said support links, pivotallymovable connecting links on said base and connected to the controlpivots of said support links; said actuator arms, support links and theconnecting links being cooperatively formed with the effective length ofsuch actuator arm between its pivot mount and reaction pin being greaterthan the combined lengths of said connecting and support links and withthe base mounting point of said connecting link being disposed away fromthe base mounting point for said actuator arm a distance equal to atleast one-half the effective length of said arm to provide an invertingand translating movement of said support links about said control pivotand connecting links as said actuator arms are moved, a cross barinterconnecting the opposed support links for maintaining a fixeddistance therebetween, a lock mechanism on at least one of said supportlinks, guide members on said lock mechanism, a container engaging memberon said guide means for reciprocal movement therealong, a hydrauliccylinder for moving said container engaging member into engagement withcollection containers disposed between the container engaging member andthe opposite support link, and mechanical advantage means for movingsaid actuator arms to desired positions whereby collection containersengaged by said lock mechanism may be dumped into the openings of packercarriers as the said support links are moved through the describedpattern.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,828,534 4/1958Pitts et al 214-308 X 3,034,672 5/1962 Barrett 214-302 3,063,586 11/1962 Appleman 214302 3,112,835 12/1963 Gierhart 214-313 3,122,250 2/1964French et al 214302 FOREIGN PATENTS 558,499 1/1944 Great Britain.

922,556 4/ 1963 Great Britain. 1,246,842 10/ 1960 France.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Examiner.

1. A DUMPING MECHANISM FOR REFUSE PACKER CARRIERS ADAPTED FOR MOUNTINGADJACENT AN OPENING IN SAID CARRIER TO FACILITATE THE DUMPING OFCOLLECTION CONTAINERS INTO SUCH OPENING COMPRISING A BASE, A CONTAINERSUPPORT LINK, A REACTION PIN ON SAID SUPPORT LINK, A CONTROL PIVOT ONSAID SUPPORT LINK, AN ACTUATOR ARM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID BASE ANDCONNECTED TO THE REACTION PIN OF SAID SUPPORT LINK, A CONNECTING LINKPIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID BASE AND CONNECTING TO THE CONTROL PIVOT OFSAID SUPPORT LINK, A LOCK MECHANISM FOR ENGAGING SAID REFUSE CONTAINERSAND ADAPTED FOR MOVEMENT WITH SAID SUPPORT LINK; SAID ACTUATOR ARM,SUPPORT LINK AND CONNECTING LINK BEING COOPERATIVELY FORMED WITH THEEFFECTIVE LENGTH OF SUCH ACTUATOR ARM BETWEEN ITS PIVOT MOUNT ANDREACTION PIN BEING GREATER THAN THE COMBINED LENGTHS OF SAID CONNECTINGAND SUPPORT LINKS AND WITH THE BASE MOUNTING POINT OF SAID CONNECTINGLINK BEING DISPOSED AWAY FROM THE BASE MOUNTING POINT FOR SAID ACTUATORARM A DISTANCE EQUAL TO AT LEAST ONE-HALF THE EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF SAIDARM TO PROVIDE AN INVERTING AND TRANSLATING MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPPORTLING AS SAID ACTUATOR ARM IS MOVED, AND MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE MEANS FORMOVING SAID ACTUATOR ARM TO DESIRED POSITIONS WHEREBY COLLECTIONCONTAINERS ENGAGED BY SAID LOCK MECHANISM MAY BE DUMPED INTO THE OPENINGOF SAID PACKER CARRIER AS THE SAID SUPPORT LINK IS MOVED THROUGH THEDESCRIBED PATTERN.